Abstract: A metatarsal guard for footwear comprises an arched body which covers a dorsal surface of a wearer's metatarsal foot area. The arched body has lateral bottom edges for engaging a footwear sole to transmit loads from the arched body to the footwear sole. Slits are defined in a rear portion of the arched body so as to form a longitudinally extending central T-shaped tongue and two longitudinally extending lateral tongues in order to increase the flexibility of the metatarsal guard. The T-shaped tongue has a rear edge extending in a concave curved line transversally of the footwear so as to prevent transmission of punctual loads to the wearer's foot. By optimizing the number and the configuration of the tongues, both the wearer's comfort and protection are maximized.

Abstract: An injection molded fiber-impregnated thermoplastic composite material comprising a plastic polymer matrix wherein the fibers are sufficiently interwoven and entangled in said polymer matrix to provide improved resistance to mechanical loading, and wherein said composite material is particularly suited for the preparation of an injection molded toe cap for a protective shoe.

Abstract: A safety shoe with detachable steel toe box, particularly a toe box made of steel plate, is fixed to invest surface of an original toe box in a shoe with a drawstring for protecting the latter and a worker's toes against impairment in working.

Abstract: Size-adjustable footwear includes an outer shell and a liner disposed within the shell. The liner has an upper, a heel, and a toe. An insert is releasably receivable within the toe of the liner. The liner has a first size which is defined between the heel and the insert when the insert is received within the toe, and a second size which is defined between the heel and the toe when the insert is not received within the toe. The first size is less than the second size. A user may select footwear based on the smaller first size, and then as his or her feet grow, remove the insert to accommodate the larger feet.

Abstract: Footwear and its method of manufacture are provided. The footwear includes an upper having a vamp lining with a toe part disposed along an inner surface of the upper is provided. A relatively rigid insole forepart member is attached to a sock liner, the length of the insole forepart being less than the length of the sock liner. The toe part of the vamp lining is then stitched to a peripheral edge of the insole forepart, the vamp lining and insole forepart defining a cavity for receiving a portion of a wearer's foot. A steel toe is then positioned substantially around the toe part of the vamp lining.

Abstract: Half sock, in general, can cover the anterior limb of a foot, leaving the heel bare. The half sock includes a sock housing with a rear opening for insertion of the foot therein. It is made of a suitably cushioning, durable, flexible, thermally-insulating and physically-proportioned material, for one illustration, a neoprene-containing material, for example, an about 3-mm neoprene material having a flexible nylon lining on either side thereof. The half sock can have, in essence, mirror image symmetry through an imaginary plane bisecting its top and bottom portions. It can include inwardly-directed front tapers to accommodate the big and the smaller toes of the foot, and include inwardly-directed rear tapers to accommodate the arch of the foot. It can be made of a one-piece web in a clamshell like pattern, having side edges butted and sewn together so that there is little or no bump.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a safety shoe having improved characteristics of flexibility, weight and style. The shoe, which is of stitch-down construction incorporates a metal toe box retainer which fits within the metal toe box and holds the metal toe box in place. The metal toe box has flanges which fit under the edges of the metal toe box retainer. Durability and comfort are achieved by means of a liner which is lasted to the interior surface of the metal toe box and wraps around and under the retainer.

Abstract: A protective safety shoe insert includes a seamless puncture-resistant insole substantially conforming in shape to a sole of the shoe. The insole comprises a flexible steel plate coinciding with an area of greatest flexure of the insole and a layer of a puncture-resistant material secured to the ends of the plate. The insole is injection molded with an integral safety toe, an integral arch support, and an optional integral heel protector. A metatarsal guard is secured to the safety toe to add impact protection for the metatarsal area of the foot.

Abstract: A boot having an improved blast and fragment resistant vulcanized rubber boot sole (13) for protection against large anti-personnel mines is described. The sole comprises embedded protective material composed of at least one layer (18) of woven polyaramid (Kevlar) material. The boot further has an upper insole (19) having a critical supporting structure comprised of at least one polyaramid layer (18). An additional graphite or engineering polymer (e.g. Delrin 100) toe-cap (41) and shank are also described.

Abstract: A heavy duty shoe has a steel plate mounted therein for protecting transverse arch of a user from being hurt by exterior sharpened objects and an arcuate steel cap mounted in a front portion of the shoe for protecting toes of the user from being hurt. A recess is defined in the front portion of the shoe, such that when the steel cap is mounted within the shoe, the ends of which are able to be flush with a shoe pad disposed within the shoe to provide a pleasant wearing environment to the user.

Abstract: A toe protector, or a metatarsal protector, or a combined toe and metatarsal protector for safety footwear are molded from plastics material either integrally or separately and then attached to one another for storage and incorporation into the finished footwear. Each part of the respective protector comprises a generally U-shaped body provided at the central part of its top outer surface with two mutually facing, spaced surfaces extending outward therefrom and bounding between them a central part of the top portion. A force receiving plate overlies the respective central part with its lower surface spaced from the central part, is of concave shape toward the central part, and has two spaced edges engageable with the two surfaces. In an integral structure the adjacent surfaces and edges are constituted by corresponding integral junctions.

Abstract: A toe cap includes an open end and a close end. The toe cap has a middle layer being a netted layer and having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the close end, a fourth layer, a third, a second and a first composite fiber layer respectively disposed on an upper surface of the middle layer in sequence, and a fifth, a sixth, a seventh and an eight composite fiber layer respectively disposed to an lower surface of the middle layer in sequence. The first, the fourth, the fifth and the second composite fiber layer are respectively disposed to the middle layer at an angle of 0 degree, positive 30 degrees, positive 45 degrees and 90 degrees corresponding to the longitudinal axis. The eighth and the seventh composite fiber layer are respectively overlapped to the first and the second composite fiber layer at the same angles of the first and the second composite fiber layer.

Abstract: A reversible shoe is comprised of a rubber, double-sided, grooved base with reversible uppers attached between sections of the base. The rear unzips and a midsole insert can be taken from the pegholes in the aforementioned base. The base is turned over and the insert from both shoes are then put on what was the bottom of it's mate. They're then rezipped and relaced to show a different color or design on the uppers, and a fresh tread on the base.

Abstract: A protective plastic toe cap for shoes includes a construction incorporating three important minimum dimensions. These dimensions include side wall thickness, the radius of the transition between the walls and the bottom flange, and the bottom flange width. Careful selection of the plastic resin materials based on certain minimum physical properties is also disclosed.

Abstract: A shoe comprising a sole having a front end that tapers and comes to a point, a heel attached to the back end of the sole, an upper portion attached around the perimeter of the sole to form a shoe having a pointed toe section, and a toe line insert placed at the front of the inner surface of the sole in between the sole and the upper. The toe line insert forms a barrier between the wearer's feet and the pointed toe section. The toe line insert is curved and substantially conforms to the shape of a wearer's toe line. The toe line insert prevents the wearer's toes from entering the pointed toe section. A filler may be placed between the toe line insert and the front end of the shoe to maintain the structure of the front end.

Abstract: Orthopaedic or post-operative footgear is provided with a removable toe piece. The toe piece is secured to the sole of the footgear to protect the toes of a user against cold, dampness, dirt and possible impact, and it is removed from the sole to allow for visual inspection of the user's toes. The toe piece can include an arcuate upper section and a substantially planar lower section, which can be secured to the sole by hook and loop material. The upper of one embodiment of the footgear is open at the toe and has overlapping flaps extending from opposite sides of the sole.

Abstract: The invention is to footwear with a rigid protective cap in the toe area between the leg (S) and the porous connection material (V) on the one hand and the lining (L) on the other hand and whose underside goes under the insole (B) over a predetermined width. The porous connection material (V) is connected to the circumference of the insole (B) by an adhesive connection (KN) at its end facing away from the actual leg material (S), at least in the toe area. The footwear can be produced in a simple and inexpensive way.

Abstract: Footwear is provided with a rigid protective cap in the toe area between the leg (S) and the porous connection material (V) on the one hand and the lining (L) on the other hand and whose underside goes under the insole (B) over a predetermined width. The porous connection material (V) is connected to the circumference of the insole (B) by an adhesive connection (KN) at its end facing away from the actual leg material (S), at least in the toe area. The footwear can be produced in a simple and inexpensive way.

Abstract: Footwear includes a shaft and a laminate which lines the shaft. The laminate has a waterproof, water vapor permeable functional layer, a rigid protective cap is between the shaft and the laminate. In the toe area, the laminate is designed as a bootie. An insole which serves as a mechanical protection between the laminate and the protective cap is located between the outsole side of the bootie and an outsole side edge of the protective cap.

Abstract: A light apparatus adapter for attachment to a sports shoe. The apparatus includes a toe shoe form (10) adapted for substantial circumlocution of the upper portion of a toe of a shoe intended for sport use, e.g. skating, hiking, walking etc. The toe shoe form (10) is comprised of a relatively hard, but somewhat flexible plastic shell dimensioned for spaced apart, overlapping and superimposed relation with respect to the upper toe portion of a shoe. At least along the interior marginal and laterally extending edges (14) of the toe shoe form is attached resilient and compressible polyeurathane foam, the interior width ("w") of the opening intermediate or between the interior lateral edges with the resilient and compressible polyeurathane foam in place being less than the width of the toe of the shoe for which the toe shoe form (10) is intended to thereby compress the foam against the toe of the shoe, when in place, inhibiting displacement of the toe shoe form.

Abstract: A protective plastic toe cap for shoes includes a construction incorporating three critical minimum dimensions. These dimensions include side wall thickness, the radius of the transition between the walls and the bottom flange, and the bottom flange width.

Abstract: The present invention provides a molding sheet material having a sandwich structure produced by preparing a fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin layer (A) reinforced with a woven fabric or a knitted web and a fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin layer (B) reinforced with a random mat and using the layer (A) as a core layer and the layer (B) as a skin layer, or using the layer (B) as a core layer and the layer (A) as a skin layer. When this sheet material is molded into a three-dimensional structure, the layer (B) serves as a cushion to prevent the occurrence of a wrinkle or a crease in the layer (A). A toe puff for a safety shoe having a light weight and excellent pressing resistance can be prepared through the molding of this sheet material. In the sheet materials, the core layer or the skin layer consisting of a thermoplastic resin reinforced with a woven fabric or a knitted web of a reinforcing fiber may be prepared from a woven fabric or a knitted web of a reinforcing fiber alone.

Abstract: A protector as footwear for an athlete to be worn over the sports shoe covering the toe and sides of the foot and, when desired, an extension for protecting the instep, ankle and toes. The protector includes hinge connections between a thickened toe portion and a foot portion for releaseable attachment purposes. A liner is disposed on the inside of the protector. The hinge may be composed of an elastic, stretchable material or a mechanical hinge. The protector is composed of a durable, hard plastic composition to resist impact loads.

Abstract: A metatarsal guard inserted in the upper of a safety shoe is made of plastic and defines an arch extending from the sole of the shoe on one side of the wearer's instep to the sole on the other side of the wearer's instep. The metatarsal guard includes a rear impact-absorbing portion having longitudinal slits cut in the sheet material to form a transversal series of longitudinal tongues that spread apart to follow the movement of the foot when the wearer is walking. An integral flap is formed in the sheet material at the distal end of the central tongue. This central tongue is folded to apply the flap to the top surface of the tongues and thereby distribute the load upon the impact of a falling object. The metatarsal guard is further provided with two lateral slits cut in the sheet material and extending transversely to facilitate flexion of the metatarsal guard upon flexion of the wearer's foot.

Abstract: The present invention is a sport shoe having a shoe upper with an interior for receiving a human foot and a bottom surface formed thereon, a removable foresole attached to a forward portion of the bottom surface of the shoe upper and having a toe receptacle for fitting against a toe area of the shoe upper, and a strap fastened to one side of the removable foresole and extending over the toe area of the shoe upper so as to removably fasten the foresole to the bottom side of the shoe upper. The shoe upper has a longitudinal track formed in the bottom surface. A longitudinal strut is connected to the removable foresole and extends rearwardly therefrom. The longitudinal strut is received by the longitudinal track in the bottom surface of the shoe upper. A plurality of receptacles are formed in the bottom surface of the shoe so as to receive tab elements branching outwardly from the longitudinal strut.

Abstract: A toe cap for a protective shoe is injection molded utilizing a fiber-filled plastic resin having a high loading of relatively long fibers. A preferred material is glass-filled polyurethane having fibers predominantly of a length in the range of 0.25 inch (6 mm) and 1 inch (25 mm). The resin injection gate is positioned to provide injection of the fiber-filled plastic material directly adjacent the rear edge of the toe cap, preferably between the roof of the cap and the lower edge of one wall. The gate has a minimum dimension of 0.100 inch (2.5 mm). The gate location and size results in a lateral orientation of the fibers in the injected plastic material across the roof of the toe cap to substantially enhance the strength thereof.

Abstract: A square-toe attachment for removable attachment to the front portion of the golf shoe farthest from the golfer's target. The attachment has a generally U-shaped configuration with sides which engage the inside and outside of the sole of the shoe and a rectangular front toe portion with a generally flat front wall disposed forward of the toe of the golf shoe and generally perpendicular to the bottom of the shoe which causes the golfer's foot farthest from the target to assume a generally vertical position with the heel up and toe down during the follow-through phase of a golf swing. The attachment is removably attached to the shoe by flexible straps with hook and loop fastener material which extend over the top of the shoe and is releasably secured to the bottom of the sole of the shoe by at least one of the shoe spikes.

Abstract: A toe cap for a protective shoe is injection molded utilizing a fiber-filled plastic resin having a high loading of relatively long fibers. The toe cap is constructed to provide a controlled vertical collapse of the body under a vertical load imposed on the roof by providing a roof section of relatively higher strength than the front and side walls of the toe cap. The front and/or side walls are provided with regions of substantially reduced cross section, as compared to the roof section, allowing the walls to close vertically and collapse in a hinge-like manner, while the relatively stronger roof substantially retains its original shape. A specially positioned and shaped gate allows the fiber-filled resin to be injected to form the toe cap in a manner resulting in the lateral orientation of the fibers across the roof to substantially enhance the strength thereof.

Abstract: A universal protective shield includes a central portion with three or more ingers integral with the central portion; openings located between adjacent fingers and above the sole of the foot covering to which the shield is attached, the openings permitting the fingers and the central portion to be adapted to conform to a foot covering: and screws for fastening the protective shield to a foot covering via bores located in the fingers. Flaps, attached to the fingers, diminish the size of the openings. The present invention may be adapted from a flat template or reformed to fit different shaped foot coverings.

Abstract: A dance shoe having a toe end and a heel end. The dance shoe has an outer sole which is constructed of a flexible material and an outer covering which is constructed of a flexible material connected to the outer sole with the outer covering cooperating with the outer sole to substantially encompass a foot space with a foot opening being formed through a portion of the outer covering. The foot opening and the foot space each are sized and adapted so that an individual may dispose his foot through the foot opening and into the foot space with the outer covering substantially covering the upper portion of an individual's foot when the individual's foot is disposed in the foot space. A relatively rigid toe support is disposed in the foot space generally near the toe end of the dance shoe. The toe support substantially encompasses and defines a toe space with a toe opening being formed through one end of a toe support.

Abstract: A toe protector for removable attachment to an athlete's shoe is disclosed. The toe protector comprises a semirigid shell substantially enclosing the distal portion of the athletic shoe, providing protection for the athlete's toes, without unduly interfering with normal biomechanical range of motion. The shell has dorsal, plantar, medial and lateral portions. The proximal end of the dorsal portion terminates in a curved line following the proximal ends of the athlete's proximal phalanges. The proximal end of the medial and lateral portions terminate at about the proximal one-third point of the athlete's first and fifth metatarsals, respectively. The proximal end of the plantar portion covers the athlete's metatarsal heads. The shell is attached to the athletic shoe with a T nut fastener, attaching the plantar portion of the shell to the sole of the shoe at a point proximal to the athlete's metatarsal heads.

Abstract: A safety shoe including a steel toe box having an inwardly turned relatively wide flange, the flange having a larger width at two end portions and having a smaller width at a central portion, the flange having a gradually thinner thickness from the junction portion to the edge; a polyethylene liner for cooperating with the toe box; a U-shaped pad made of hardened material having a size and shape substantially matching with a size and shape of the flange of the steel toe box for supporting the steel toe box; and a middle sole having a U-shaped cutout for matching and retaining the U-shaped pad.

Abstract: A shoe with a placement track on the front perimeter of its sole which slidably receives a toe cover in it. The toe cover includes a sheath or covering portion and a rim portion. The rim portion has apertures at its ends in order to receive and engage with securement wedges at the ends of said placement track.

Abstract: A split sole shoe has a front outer sole with an outwardly facing recessed section and a heel member with an inwardly facing recessed section, the outwardly facing recessed section being connected to the inwardly facing recessed section in an overlapping configuration so as to form an interior relief groove exposing a portion of the inwardly facing recessed section and an exterior relief groove exposing a portion of the outwardly facing recessed section, thereby increasing the flexibility of the shoe in the region which flexes while taking a heel-to-toe step. A toe cap portion is formed together with the front outer sole so as to provide a smooth and continuous transition from the top of the toe cap to the bottom of the front outer sole, thereby enabling an infant or child to drag the toe portion of the shole without stumbling or tripping on a protuberance in the transition region.

Abstract: A safety shoe including a metatarsal guard comprising a molded plastic arch extending across the metatarsal area supported at each of its ends on the sole and consisting of a number of ribs hinged to each other, the whole being laminated into the upper of the shoe.

Abstract: A safety shoe structure including a protective cap mounted above the toe receiving portion of the shoe and between the upper layer and the lining, in which the protective cap has a forward edge formed with a horizontal and inwardly extending lateral flange and a rear edge extended and engaged with a soft piece, while the sole is provided thereon with a generally U-shaped hard piece located at the forward end of the sole upon which the lateral flange rests and a sponge member covers the remaining portion of the sole, and an insole is provided onto the lateral flange and the sponge member.

Abstract: An improved toe guard for footwear and footwear so made are disclosed. The toe guard is non-metallic, reducing thereby risks associated with electrical shocks and the detonation of land mines. Preferably, the final composite from which the toe guard is molded is produced from an intermediate composite that is extruded while molten in strips from a die at the same time that fibers are advanced through the die together with and enveloped by the extruded strips. These strips are cut into predetermined lengths and the resulting sections are mixed and compacted in their molten state to provide the composite for the toe guard, this composite being such that the fiber is distributed in groups, adjacent increments of the strands of a given group being substantially parallel, but the strands of different groups being at random angles with respect to each other. Preferably, the toe guard is formed with a long top portion to provide protection extending beyond the toes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a front piece for shoes which is matched to the shape of the tip of the foot and is composed of a top part covering the tip of the foot and of a flank surrounding the tip and sides. The front piece is composed of a hard or elastic material which is produced in one piece and has, on its top part, a recess for fastening the upper and, around its flank, a further recess for receiving a surrounding or fastening strip. The top part of the front piece tapers towards the shoe into a soft thin lip. A shoe having a front piece is also disclosed.

Abstract: Footwear having a toe protector removably connected to the toe thereof to protect the toes of a foot from falling objects. The removable connection is achieved by fitting headed protrusions on the sole into apertures formed in the toe protector.

Abstract: A steel cap is mounted on a shoe molding last during molding, particularly during the initial molding of a plastic shoe. The steel cap furthermore is supported on the shoe molding last by a plurality of projecting members distributed over the surface of the steel cap extending from it or the shoe molding last. At least one releasable holding or retaining means is provided on the shoe molding last which holds the steel cap on the shoe molding last secure against unintended release. To obtain a nearly flawless jacket or sheath of synthetic resin about the steel cap the holding or retaining means comprises at least one slender elastic pin directed transverse to the insertion direction of the steel cap. The steel cap has at least one of the elastic pins engaging against a roughened interior surface of the steel cap and the pin locks in the roughened surface of the steel cap under compression.

Abstract: A toe cap for internally reinforcing the toe of safety shoes, boots, and the like to protect the wearer against heavy compression or impact loads is made from a plastic material, and is designed with a flexible roof region in order to shift stresses generated by such loads to the lateral and forward wall regions which are more capable of supporting the loads and yield higher load-carrying capacities.

Abstract: A method for the production of footwear is disclosed which comprises providing and attaching a midsole member with integrated toe and heel counters. The process provides for efficient use of labor and machinery by reducing the number of steps required in footwear production and by reducing the number of machines required. The method comprises placing the midsole over a liner, drawing a pre-formed upper over the midsole and attaching a sole to the upper. Attachment of the components is preferably by a heat-activated glue. The midsole component is adaptable to a number of applications by modifying such aspects as the size and shape of the toe and heel counters, the size, shape and/or presence of side walls, the contour and thickness of the bottom, and the attachment of shanks or other stiffening or resiliency modifying members.

Abstract: A footwear reinforcement which comprises a toe cap portion having a curved end wall which curves rearwardly at the top into an upper wall and which curves on opposite sides into opposed side walls integral with the upper wall, a bottom wall integral with lower edges of the front and side walls. A series of longitudinally-spaced transversely-extending curved ribs extend from one side of the reinforcement to the other side behind the toe cap portion and are connected at their transversely opposite ends to a rearwardly extending portion of the bottom wall of the toe cap portion.

Abstract: This invention relates to a safety shoe which is similar to the structure and function of a sport shoe comprising a conventional tennis shoe type sole receiving a steel plate therein provided at the front end with a plurality of slots, a shoe upper face attached to said sole being divided into a vamp section and two side portions, said side portions provided with two pairs of first and second pockets, a toe lining attached to the inner face of said vamp section to form a bag, a front cover disposed in said bag to protect the wearer's toes, a facing partly overlapping said side portions and provided along the inner margins with a plurality of eyelets through which a lace may pass, a pair of fixing laces being anchored on the opposite sides of said facing, a protecting cover provided on the opposite sides with two pairs of first and second legs which correspond to said first and second pockets overlaying said facing with its first and second legs respectively inserting into said first and second pockets of said

Abstract: A safety shoe having a toe protecting cap which is shaped to conform substantially to the tip of the shoe and is provided at its portion facing the sole of the shoe with an inwardly directed flanged rim. This toe protecting cap flanged rim is inserted into a groove provided in the vertical end face of the one piece sole and is retained therein by attachment of the upper of the shoe, whereby the upper groove wall is set back with respect to the lower groove wall by at least the thickness of the toe protecting cap. The shoe upper is attached to the lower groove wall. The manufacture of the safety shoe is simplified and production cost savings are realized by providing a one piece sole having a groove therein, whereby at least one of the height and depth of the groove is slightly less than the corresponding thickness and length of the flanged rim of the toe protecting cap.

Abstract: This invention relates to a safety shoe of the type having an upper with a box toe cap in the toe portion thereof and an outer sole of relatively yielding, resilient and flexible material secured to the upper and having a supporting plate of relatively rigid material embedded in and surrounded by the material of the outer sole and having a configuration similar to the generally U-shaped configuration of the lower edge of the safety box toe and being disposed beneath said lower edge in registry therewith so as to impart additional support thereto when a blow or force is applied to the toe cap.In a preferred embodiment of the invention the supporting plate is formed of a relatively rigid, hard, polymeric material and has a plurality of apertures formed therein into which the material of the outer sole extends to help anchor the supporting plate in position.

Abstract: A shoe of the moccasin type is made crush- and deformation-resistant toe by use of a premolded box toe stiffener for stiffening the toe region of the shoe upper. The stiffener is of flexible, resiliently stable character, characteristically remaining in or reverting to its original configuration, including an upstanding flange of curved configuration for lying against and providing securement to the corresponding interior surface of the upper. Principal and side tabs extend rearwardly from the bottom edge of the flange for securement to the sole part of the upper, or to an insole. Exterior foot-opposed surfaces of the stiffener are coated with heat-activated adhesive for adhesive securement to said shoe interior surfaces. The flange has a rear, foot-side inner surface devoid of adhesive, being exposed within the shoe. The method of making the shoe involves thermally forming the stiffener by molding from a blank of heat-formable material.

Abstract: A warming cap mountable on the toe of a boot. A flexible, heat conductive inner core can be shaped to conform the cap to the shape of the boot and an upper receptacle holds a heat source for generating heat.

Abstract: A ballet dancer's toe dancing ballet shoe is designed and manufactured more simply than conventional ballet toe shoes. A sole supporting shank of the toe shoe has a tip flap at the front thereof which may be folded up to define the front panel of the completed ballet toe shoe. The shank is applied to a male mold member which is inserted into a female mold member cavity and resin is inserted into the space between the mold members for defining a toe box support frame in which the inserted portion of the shank and tip flap are embedded. The shank is comprised of a leather-like material. The completed combination of the shank and toe box support frame are removed from the mold members. A ballet toe shoe upper is fastened to the shank and over the exterior and in the interior, as well, of the toe box support frame.

Abstract: An athletic shoe is disclosed which is primarily adapted for use in rapid start-stop sports, such as tennis, racquetball, handball and the like. The athletic shoe includes a sole, an upper secured to the sole and a toe cap which is secured to the sole and the upper. The toe cap defines a plurality of narrow slits which extend generally longitudinally of the sole. The narrow slits increase the flexibility of the toe cap and provide room for the toes of the user during rapid stops primarily to prevent bruising of the big toe.